CoC : Vokodlok - Unchain the Wolf : Review

Vokodlok - _Unchain the Wolf_
by: Pedro Azevedo (4 out of 5)

With their band name coming from ancient Romanian "vukodlak", meaning "werewolf", and their demo being titled _Unchain the Wolf_, you can probably guess Vokodlok play black metal, and not of a modern kind. These naming choices might even lead you to think Vokodlok are some sort of a Romanian version of Ulver circa their esoteric masterpiece _Nattens Madrigal_ [CoC #21]. The former conclusion would be more accurate than the latter, for Vokodlok do play relatively raw black metal and shun keyboards, but in a rather different way from what Ulver ever did. Vokodlok utilise a guitar-driven style, the guitar work being rather busy in its creation of Norwegian-sounding icy melodies and riffs. _Unchain the Wolf_ is mostly mid-paced, but it does contain plenty of effective outbursts of speed as well. The music harkens back to older black metal influences, whilst at the same time boasting good (yet cold-sounding) production and a drum machine, which is competently used. The vocals work well with the guitar lines and artificial drumming, creating some good, even memorable passages, and the overall result is a rather pleasant demo. I see no reason why this young band would not be able to follow the footsteps of country-mates Negura Bunget, for example, even if their style is quite different.

Contact: Andrei Pantiru, str. Aleea Saturn nr. 9,

(article published 13/5/2001)